Can-vent-hole-soldering machine.



PATENTED OCT. 2, 1906. P. KRUSE. v CAN VENT HOLE SOLDERING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED my 23, 1904 RENEWED JULY 21, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

//v VEZV rbm No. 332,328. v IPATENTED 0012, 1906. v P. KRUSE. CAN VENT HOLE SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1904. BBNEWED JULY 21, 1906.

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PATBNTED 001'. 2, 1906. P. KRUSE.

CAN VENT HQLE SOLDERING MACHINE. APPLICATION 211.1115 HAY23. 1ad4.'nnnnw1m JULY 21, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PETER K RU S 1),

OF. ASTORIA, OREGON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO .AS"ORl1-i TRON WORKS, OF AS'IORIA, OREGONQA CORPORATION OF unseen.

CAN"\IENTHOLE"JOLDERING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1906.

Application filed May 23,190 Renewed July 21,1906. Serial No. 327,214. I

metal cans such as are used for the preservation of food roducts of" varioussorts As is well nown to those familiarwith the packing of hermetically-sealed goods, it is nec- ,-essary to provide a vent in the head or cap of it is ordinarily called.

each can for the hot gases or vapors that form therein while the cap or head is being soldered over its contents and which if confined would interfere with the soldering operation. Again, there are certain foods that require a second sealing to admit of a reliminary cooking in cacao inorder to rid t em of sun dry impurities which will gather at the top of the can while heated and squirt out when the can cap or head is punctured. The vent-in the oneinstance and puncture in the other are most. conveniently and economically stopped off by means of solder, which is best a plied with the ordinary tool after cleaning t 1e can around its opening and depositing thereon a small uantity of acid for fluxing operations whic have hitherto generally been performed by hand.

The present machine is designed for the rapid and thorough performance of the several operations here indicated or. implied-- namely, the wiping of the can cap or head previously to soldering, the deposit of the flux and solder in. the required amounts and at the proper place, the heating and cleaning of the soldering-tool, and adequate fusing to stop ofi the hole in the cap or head either as a temporary or final step in hermetically sealing the can. In the discharge of these functions the machine is properly a vent -hole soldering or stopping-oil machine, which At the same time the machine is peculiarly adapted to unstop the can after a first cooking of its contents to free them of impurities, as aforesaid, which it does by melting away the solder from the ventthat is, by undoing what it previously didthus providing the most suitable outlet for the impurities, while obviating a more or less ObJCCtlOIltlble second puncture in the can elevation of the complete machine.

cap or head elsewhere. In this capacity the machine may well be termed a desolderingmachine.

Referring to the accompanying drawings to describe the various parts and combinations of parts of which it consists, Figure 1 is a partly-broken and partly-sectionr-adside Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the same, also broken in parts and minus the heating apparatus for the soldering (or desoldcriug) mechanism. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line A A of the preceding view looking up toward the upper part of the drawings or toward the rear of the machine. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a plan and a front elevation, both partially broken and sectioned ,-showing details of the mechanism that cleans the can caps or heads and supplies them with acid preparatory to soldering. Fig. 6 shows the machine in front elevation with the top thereof in section. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of the solder-feed. Fig. 8 is alongitudinal vertical section of the same on the line 'B B of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail'plan of a shield attached to the machine when desoldering. Fig. 10 is a similar plan of a device that operates to steady the cans while they are being s'oldered or desoldcred. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the movement of the soldering-iron. Fig.

12 is an enlarged detail showing the absorbent material and the means for supplying the acid theretov Similar characters designate similar parts wherever they occur in the different figures.

' The machine comprises a housing 1, coinposed oi" two inwardly-flanged uprights or standards that are located opposite each other at a suitable distance apart and carry,

parallel beams 2 and 3, preferably made of an le-iron as shown and securel bolted onev to each of said uprights or standards about midway of their l' eight on the inside. The angle-irons 2 and 3 likewise carry a channel-iron 4, horizontally disposed thereabove and upheld longitudinally thereof by means of transverse centrally-raised braces 5,that are bolted to said angle-irons and upon the raised portion of which the web or bottom of said channel-iron rests, the latter being rigidly fastened thereto, so as to be practically level and maintained in a normally immovable position. The flanges of this channel iron4 are upwardly disposed and being parallel, like a pair of rails, constitute a track upon which the cans to be soldered or desoldered can ride or slide while passing through 5 and being operated upon by the machine. To the under side of the channel-iron are also secured a number of cross-bars 6, serving as supports for angular brackets 7, that stand in pairs upon the ends of each cross bar on opposite sides of the machine and hold between them two lateral guides 8 for the cans above the said track. The two sets of brackets are secured at their has'es to their respective ends of the cross-bars, and the guides likewise secured. to the upper ends of the vertical members of their respective brackets, by means of set-bolts 9 and 10, and slots 11 and 12 are respectively formed in said ends o'f the several cross-bare-and brackets wherein the set-bolts can be shifted to effect any desired adjustment of the guides both laterally and. vertically to accommodate cans of different sizeshy moving the brackets toward or away from one another and the guides up or down thereupon in a manner that 'is easily understood. The sundry parts just, enumerated make up the framework of the machine and the channel or runway provided therein for the canswhose vents are to be stopped or unstopped, as the case may be. The 'ca'r'i's are indicated bythe letter (J, and their respective vents by V.

Within the channel-iron 4 runs a link belt .or 'sproclret -'chain 13, that passes over spgocket-wheels Maud and undera similar w eel 16, the two first-narned wheels being respectively located at the fiont and rear of the machine and having their axles jour- 'naled 'sui'ta' bl'e hearings on the angle-irons 2 and 3 and the wheel last named being mounted jo'n and between the housing-standards 1. The belt or chain- 13 is thus spread, deflected, or depressed below the channel iron to make .room for other mechanism, 4 5 hereinafter described. It receivesits motion from a 'centrally l oc'ated shaft 1.7, 'Which'is connected with the axis of the wheel 15 by means of sprocket-Wheels 18 and I9 and a short chain 20. The shaft 17 has its bearings 5 0 int ehousing across the standards thereoflis Y the driving-shaft of the mac'hine,'and is itself driven by belting, (not shown) having the "customary fast and loosebe'lt-pul'leys 21 and (Show'nonlyi'nFigd) Theconnections 5 are such,'it will be seen, thatthe' shaft 17 and "belt or chain 13 will both turn in a'like'd'irem 'tion, so that byrotating the shaft clockwise that part (if the belt or chain which runs in the chan'neldron will move inthe direction indicated by the arrow 23. in Fig. 1 This is the'direction in which it is intended the cans Cshdnld travel in the form ofjthe machine ltere ihdescribed, and the cans fare-thus caused to travel upon the upwardly-turned 's fianges 6f the channel-iron 4 by the said ported 'bya vertically gi'uided seem drspin belt or chain 13, which for that purpose is provided with outward spurs or projections 24, functioned to push the several cans along the said flanges of the channel-iron. The cans when first delivered to. the apparatus are received upon an endless traveling belt 25, which passes over drums and which is offset to one side of the carrying-chain '13, as plainly shown in Fig. 2.

The guides 8 are curved so as to connect the line of travel of the cans which are received upon the belt 25 with the line of travel of the carrying-chain 1'3, and at thepoint where this change of direction takes place is located a spider, having arms 26 with in'ter- 3c mediate depressions. This spider is turnable in a horizontal plane and is so located that the depressions in front of the arms 26 will each engage a can around which the partially fit and transfer it from its lirst *i'n'e of 5 travel 'on the belt 25 to the line of travel of the carrier 13. The diameter of the spider is here shownas such that the distance or "ofiset between these two carriersis approximately upon the tracks 4 between the 'guidaflan es 8, and the same spurs engage and rotate 'e spider.

section in Fig. 3,-has a channel made in it'so that the he'lt 25 iscarr'ied with its surface suh stantia'llyle'velwith that-oi the board, and the edge-of the board contiguou to the supporting flanges 4 is also upon a, level with these flanges, so that the can is readily moved the spider from one line 'tra've'l to the other, and. as thespni's 24 of the sprdcket-- chain intermittentlye ngage the-downwardlyprojecting lugs of the spider the latter will be turned upon the arrival ofeadhsptir'o'f t'he chain, so as to transfer another can to 'itsfnew line'o f travel. As the cans areca'rried aldng upon the trac'ks and between the tides b'y *thetravelin chain theyai'ecarri'e beneath 11. a suitable a sorbe'nt material m, "(shown dotted lines in Fig. 5,) which issu plied acid fro-ma tank 29. A pipe 30. eadfsifroirn this tank and delivers acid to the'de'Vice-Sl,

by which the acid i applied tofflhe 1:0 ana -1'25 I center of the can 'as it passes. The a'jci may be delivered from the pipe 30 into the tu be within the a'b'sorbeh'rtmaterialjandthnsled to the bottom and keep the lower end su plied The transfer-hoard 2-7 which is shown in 100 with suflicie'n-t to w pe overthe paint to be :25,

'solderedasthe'can asses, I ried u on-theme fanarm 32, W11 dh'issf 33', and this spindle-has pm '3afprejeefihigz" thence it passes to the feed device.

-to the hole which is to be stop ed.

plate is carried upon a horizontally-guided and movable slide 36, said plate having an arm 37 projecting into the line of travel of the can, so that as the latter passes it moves the slide and through the action of the inclined slot 35 upon the pin 34 the wiper 31 is momentarily brought down upon the can at the ri ht instant to apply the acid to the center, w iere it is desired. As soon as the can has-passed a spring 38 returns the parts to their normal position and raises the wiper out of the line of travel of the can until an other can appears. 1 This device is well shown in detail in .Figs. 4 and 5.

The solder-wire, which is indicated at 39, is conveniently delivered from a revoluble spool 40 and carried over a guide-pulley LL-and It consists of 1 two pawls 42. These pawls are mounted upon a slotted plate 43 which is slidable upon pins 44, passin through the slots. Pins 45, lixed to this slidhble plate, enter slots in the ends of lever-arms 46. These lever-arms are carried upon vertical spindles 47, upon which spindles are fixed lever-arms 4S, and these lever-arms lie in the path of the traveling cans, and the hinerends of said arms .are sufliciently near together so that each can through a tube 51, having its outer end bev eled, as shown at 52, in such a manner that the end or side of each soldering-iron as it passeswill move substantially in the plane of this bevel, and as a portion hi the solder-wire projects through this beveled face the heated iron will melt oil a sul'licicnt amount to apply This portion of the apparatus is well s iown in Figs. 7

and. 8.

The soldering-irons I have shown at 53. They are carried at the outer ends of radial arms proj octing from a hub or carrier, which is journaled horizontally and which is here shown as being revolved by the bevel-gears 54, receiving motion from any suitable source which the arms pass during their revolution and through the other 0 en end of which they leave this chamber. ithin this cham her the irons are heated by any suitable or desired means. I have here shown such means in the form of burners 59, which discharge jets of flame or highly-heated gases into the chamber through which the irons are passing, and the temperature therein maintained will be sufiicient to keep the irons as hot as may be required. Leaving this chamber the tips of the irons pass over a cleaning roll or wiper 60, which may be of any suitable or desired shape and supported in the path of the iron, so that the tips of each one will be wiped as it passes. In order to maintain these tips in proper condition, I have shown a pipe 61 leading from the acid-chamber 29 and discharging upon the wiper-roll. Pins 62 are carried in unison with the solderingdrons, and these pins serve to center the cans with relation to the irons as the latter approach the cans, and they thus maintain the smali central hole of the can in the exact position which is necessary inorder to allow it to be soldered and closed by the passing irons.

As the movement of any link-carrying chain-or similar device is liable to be somewhat irregular, I have provided a means for placing the cans so that they will exactly meet the irons as they pass. This device consists of elastic tips or fingers 63, well shown in Fig. 10, against and between which the can contacts, and these fingers 63 act to retard its motion. Thus if the can should be slightly in advance of its proper position it ,would be checkedby these elastic arms, and

an instant later the pins 62 will come in contact with the back of the can, and thus push it forward, the iron being simultaneously in position to deliver the drop of solder from the wire and deposit it upon the part to be closed. In some cases, if found desirable, a second set of burners, as shown at 64, may be so disposed as to discharge heating-jets upon the center of the can as it passes, and thus insure the more perfect soldering. By this opera tion I am enabled to automatically close the central openings of cans, and these cans are delivered from the end of the carrying mechanism to any desired receiver. After being thus closed the cans are placed in a cooking apparatus, and after a certain amount of cooking, which separates certain impurities from the contents of the can and also expands the head to a certain extent, the cans are either returned to the same apparatus or passed through a: similar a paratus, and the heated irons of this secon apparatus serve to unsolder the openings which have been closed, as previously described, thus allowing the impurities, which are under considerable pressure Within the can, to be blown out of the opening thus uncovered. prevent, the irons from being coated with In order to th seimpurities, an inclined bridge or cover 65 is supported in such position that the iron passes over its center. A small slot is made,

as at'66, so that as the iron in the can arrives at the point. of contact the hole to be unsoldered will lie'rnomentarily Within this slot 66, I and. as theean passes beneath the ,elosed por tion 65 and, the iron over the top the jet of impurities which. are forcedfout by interior pressure smite can will strike the lower part of this bridge'whilethe, iron passes above, it and is pr'oteeted from the ejected matter.

The reseldering of the holegafter, the" cooking and eleansingis complete ,iie'cted in the" same manneras previously deseribed. 'Thus the operations may be; carried on automatieally and with but verylittleatt'ention. lnsomefeases i av, be feund' 'desirable to employ a second series of pin S623, similar to.

the pins'shofw'n at 62, and "these seco'nd sets of pins are mounte 'l'upon, radial revoluhle arms 67, driven by the motijir in unison with the fmovements of the pins 62, which move with the soldering-hens, and when two sets are used both sets ofpins will arrive behind the can at thesame instant, one set near the topand' the other set near the bottom, as

' shown in the broken-away'secti'on of the hous- 16., located at the lower. part of the frame, this is for the purpose of providing space for the revolution of the arms 67, which carry the pins 62*; but if this portion of the device be dispensed with, as can be done when as many as eight soldering-irons are employed, it will be understood that the chain can extend di' r'ectly from one of the pulleys to the other Without making a detour, as here shown.

When hsh or other greasy substance 13 being canned, the vent-open ngs may beeome coated and in bad condition to receive the sealing material. The wiper 31 is designed to cleanse the can as well as to ap'ply'the acid,

and it does this by the rubbing or wiping action due to the movement of the parts witlr' relation to each other.

Having thus described my invention, What I. elaim,'and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is I 1 In a can-vent'sealing and unsealing ap p'aratus, straight horizontal guides, means for dehvermgcans on end between said guides,

an endless chain movablebetweenthe guides and 'havin g upwardly-pr0jeeting spurs teengagethe bottoms of the"-eans, -radially-disposed soldering-irons revoluble in a" vertical plane intersecting the center of the line of travel of the cans, and means by which the can-vents and irons are caused to register In a can-vent sealing andunsealing aply at'the instant paratus, straight horizontal guides, means for delivering cans on end between said guides.

an endless chain movable between the guides, l

andhaving upwardly-projecting spurs to, en-

gage the bottoms of the cans,radially -disposed soldering-irons, revoluble' in a' vertical plane the/cans, and pins movable in unison withv intersecting the center of the'line'of'travelof the irons to center the cans withrelationto I the passing irons. t i v v 3. In a c an-vent sealing and unseal ng apparat'us, straight horizontal guidesy means for delivering cans on end between said guides, anendless cha n movable between'the guides,

with upwardly-pro ecting spurs toengage the bottoms of the cans, radially-disp0sed solderin'g-irons'revoluble in 'a vertical p'laneiriterseeting aline of travel of the can-vents,

and elastic fingers .between which the ean's pass and by which their advance is tempo? rari ly retarded. 1

4. In a, can-ventsealing andunsealing ap paratus stralgl'it horizontal guides, meansfor delivering cans on end between said guides, an endless chain h avi'ng upwardly-pro eetmg' spurs and movable to engage the bottoms of the cans, radially-disposed soldering-irons revoluble m a vert cal plane ntersecting a line substantially feentral between the guides, "elastic lingers between which the cans are carried by the chain, and pins movable inunison with the irons toinsnre the" can-ventsregis ff tering with the/irons. I H

I 5'. 'ln acan-vent-sealing apparatus,s traiglit horizontal'guides means for deliveringcans'on end between'said guid i 'anendlesseh'ain rec in {I movable hetweenthe guideswith upwardly cans, radially-disposed sohlering-irOns' reve luble in a vertical plane ntersecting the'cjentcr 01 travel of the cans, means for register ng and eentering the eans 'withl the iron s and means actuated by the passing cans by which solder-wire is advanced to meet the iron and v the vent in u'msorn 6. in a canvent-sealing apparatus-guides and an endless traveling chain with spurs movable between the guides to engage. advance cans on end, radially-disposed sol dering irons, and means by which they are re vvolved in a' vertieal'plane and the can-vents caused to suce'essively register withthe pass ing lrons, and a w re-selder-fecdlng device, fl consisting of pawls between which the Wire passes, a slidable plateupon which thepawls pivoted, fulcri'uned farms'projecting into the path of the can, andconnections' between thefarms and plate whereby said plate is moved and the wirejadvancedjtofmeet. the

can-ventandiron.

and an endless traveling c movable between the guidesto engage ans" advance canyon end, radially-disposed'sdh deringdron, and means by which they are' 7:"1n a canvent sealing apparatus, guides am with: f I

passing irons, a single source of wire-solder ago supply and means by which the wire is advanced to meet each succussive iron and canvent, said means including a slidable plate, spring-pressed grips between which the wire passes, lever-arms projecting into the path of the passing cans, and connections between said arms and the plate.

8. In a can-vent-soldering apparatus, straight horizontal guides, an endless traveling chain with spurs movable between the guides to engage and advance cans on end, radially-disposed soldering-irons revolublc in a vertical plane, and means by which the means for heating, cleaning and registering can vents are caused to successively register with the passing irons, a single source of wire-solder supply, a rec1procating plate actuated by the passage of each can, grips carried by the plate, between which grips the wire is passed, and a guide-tube having its end in the line of travel of the irons and contiguous to the can-vent, said tube end having an upwardly-presented diagonal surface through which the wire is ejected.

9. In a can-vent-sealing apparatus, straight horizontal guides, an endless traveling chain with spurs movable between the guides to engage and advance cans on end, soldering-irons revoluble in a vertical plane to intersect the line of canvents, a belt in the same horizontal lanewith the chain with guides between which the cans pass in a line at one side of the chain, a spider pivoted in line with the belt and having arms to receive and transfer the cans from the belt to the chain-carrier, a transfer-floor located between the beltand chain, and curved guides connecting the belt and chainguides.

10. An apparatus "for soldering the vents of cans, said a paratus comprising solderingirons revolub e in a vertical plane, with means for heating said irons, a carrier upon which cans are su ported on end 'with the vent in the plane or revolution of the soldering-irons, an acid-carrying pad, means for supplying acid thereto, means for depressing said into contact with each can-vent, said means consisting of a movable carrier,

an inclined slotted slide engaging said. carrier and an arm projecting into the path of the can and capable of being retracted by the passage of the can. l

11. In a machine for sealing can-vents, traveling can-carrier, implements revoluble in "the line and direction of travel of the cans, heating and cleaning devices for said implemerits, means for causing the implements to substantially contact with the can-vents, and

mechanism actuated by both sides of passing cans, whereby a wire or strip of sealing material is positively 'delivered at.the contact, of the can-vent and the implement.

12. In a machine for sealing can-vents, a traveling can-carrier, implements revoluble in the line and direction of travel of the cans, arms movable in unison with the implements to contact with and advance the cans, and elastic arms between which, the cans are pressed by the first-named arms, said mechanism acting to register the approaching cans and implements.

13. In a machine for sealing can-vents, a traveling can-carrier, implements revoluble in the line and direction of travel of the cans,

the implements with the vents of passing cans, a solder-wire feed comprising reciproeating clamps between which the wire passes, and lever-arms between which the cans pass to simultaneously separate said arms and advance the feed-clamps.

14. In a machine for sealin can-vents, a traveling can-carrier, revolubl e sealing implements, means for causing said implements to register with the passing can-vents, reciprocating.wire solder-feed grip, arms between which the cans pass to reciprocate said grips, and a guide by which the solder is presented at the point of use. 4

15. In a can-vent-s0ldering apparatus a can-carryin belt with fixedguides upon each side, an endless traveling chain with spurs to engage cans, and fixed guides upon each side, said guides and chains coated at one side of the line of the belt, curved guides connecting the belt and chain-guides, a revoluble spider having arms turnable within the curved guides, said arms engaging and transferring the cans from the belt to the chains, and a surface substantially level with the belt and chains, over which the cans are transferred.

16. In a canvent-unsealing apparatus horizontal guides, an endless traveling chain with spurs movable between the guides to engage arid advance cans on end, solderingarms revoluble in a vertical plane to intersect the line of passing can-vents, means for heating the irons during their revolutions, and a slotted bridge or cover fixed at the point where the irons and cans meet, and be tween the two.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER KRUSE.

VVitnesses S. H. Nonns'a, JEssrE C. Enema. 

